[Expired] [Award Alert] Book Etihad’s First Class From New York for 80K Miles

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.

Several airlines based in the Middle East are known for their extravagance, and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is certainly one of them. It’s been awfully difficult to find first-class award space on this airline for a long time, though a few recent dumps have allowed some folks to get in on the action.

We came across these first class seats to and from New York on Etihad’s 787 — which means we had to run to tell you.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Fare Details

While you won’t be experiencing the Airbus A380’s massive Apartment, first class on the 787 is pretty special. These suites include closing doors and incredible food. These flights are fairly last-minute, but there is availability in both directions of travel, which can make for an awesome vacation.

• Class: First
• Routes: New York (JFK) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) and vice versa
• Dates: August to September 2024
• Rates: As few as 80,000 miles one-way

Your best bet to search is using American Airlines, since Etihad’s first class is bookable online via aa.com. What’s especially unusual about this is that Etihad has been restricting award space for AA. It’s also incredibly stingy when releasing seats, so seeing up to 3 on a single route is a big deal.

This availability is close-in, though there’s a decent selection of dates both to and from Abu Dhabi (AUH).

Best Ways To Book

There are 2 good ways to book these flights. The cheapest is via Asiana Airlines, which will charge you just 80,000 miles one-way for a first-class flight. However, these awards can’t be booked online; instead, you’ll need to call Asiana to do so. Asiana miles are also difficult to earn. The program’s only transfer partner is Marriott Bonvoy, which transfers at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer.

Your other option is via American Airlines AAdvantage, which is significantly easier to book. Although they’re much more expensive at 115,000 miles one-way, this may be worth it if you already have a stash of miles to burn.

As you can see above, these awards are bookable online, which means it’ll take just a few minutes to confirm your reservation. American Airlines miles are also easier to earn than Asiana miles, given the multiple credit cards that earn AA miles. You can also transfer from Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio.

Note that Air Canada also partners with Etihad, but availability is not showing on its site.

Final Thoughts

Flying first class on Etihad is a bucket-list item for many. Although these seats are for flights in the near future, this is your chance to experience 13 hours of the best Etihad has to offer. What are you waiting for?